Charleston Pale Ale

Date: 11/05/1999
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Duramn, NC, Winter

golden, whispy head, strong fresh hop aroma, light malt flavor, lots of bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
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The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

not much too this. pours a pale straw-yellow, amber body with minimal to no white fizzy head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. smells sweet. tastes of sweet malts. maybe a dash of citrus and caramel a piece. thin and watery mouthfeel. very little aroma. very little flavor. a barely there beer. next...

From notes 5/17/03: Pours a healthy copper-orange color, reminiscent of an IPA. A fluffy off-white head formed easily and hung around for about half of the glass. Laced very well, sticky and patchy. Hazy, cloudy beer. Aromas were wonderful. Cascade hops abound. A little bit of a soapy air to it as well. The taste began nicely with a nice malt feel accompanied by a Cascade hop infusion, but then it took a strange sidetrip down an unmarked road towards Bitterville. If they could just bottle the FIRST part of the taste, and leave the back end of the taste for other brewers to deal with, this would be a good beer in most aspects. The back end plus the aftertaste yields a bitterness not really enjoyed. Mouthfeel is adequate for the style. Drinkability suffers in that there’s no physical way to isolate just the aroma and beginning part of the taste.

Bottle. Sweet pineapple-orange and hops aroma. Medium amber with small head. Sweet light pineapple-orange and syrup flavor with a light hops finish. Could benefit from more hops.

(12oz bottle) Lightly hazed copper body topped by a small beige head that retains. Aroma is medium sweet, toffee/butterscotch/caramel, light chocolate. Taste is moderately sweet, butterscotch/caramel, some chocolate. Light medium body, some stickiness. I assume this is supposed to be an English Pale Ale based on the characteristics I experienced.

12 oz bottle. Slightly hazy with amber-orange hue and fluffy off white head. Light molasses and caramel aroma with a hint of sprucy hops. Medium bodied with mostly caramel malt flavor. Slightly sweet with a touch of acidity at the end. Hop flavor is negligible.

Label reads "Belgian-style American White Ale" but also "Charleston Pale", must be a misprint. Anyway, had a copper color, dark cherry and caramel nose with some bland bitterness. Average brew.

Bottle. Made by my college roomate’s brother-in-law, so I hope its good. Pous a slightly hazy deep-copper/amber color with a small white head. Not much hops in the aroma, more malt than anything else. The taste is pretty sweet with not much hops or bitterness. Needs more hops to balance the sweetness. Finishes slightly sweet and bitter. OK beer.